Dear Aquarist,
We had a fun time at this month’s event! James Fatherree was our speaker and he delved into his topic of “Reef Basics” head first. He showed how easy it was to set up and maintain a marine aquarium. Just keep it simple and stay with the basics. He had a great presentation and stayed late to answer the audience’s questions. Everyone got a real education thanks to James.
Our auction was very diversified with marine livestock, plants and freshwater fish. Members who brought in fish, corals and plants were able to go 50/50 at the auction. We only have this twice each year – November and April. This is our way of giving back to our members and also sharing the livestock with others so everyone can benefit.
We had the winners of our 2014 Photo Contest come up and accept their fantastic prizes. Our wonderful sponsors provided high quality products so everyone was happy they participated. More on this later in the Bulletin.
Just because our Photo Contest is over doesn’t mean there aren’t more exciting things going on at BAS. We still have our Forum Q & A contest. Submit questions and/or provide answers on fish, corals and plants to win prizes. We plan on having this contest 3 times each year, so get involved and try to stump our Forum members. You do not have to be a BAS member to enter.
We had a terrible tragedy befall our club at Halloween. One of our young members, just 7 years old, died from an allergic reaction to something he ate. Joseph DeNicola was always an active participant at our meetings. I don’t know how he managed to stay awake and continue to help with his big brother and his dad, but he never stopped. This month, we passed around the hat for a collection for his family as our way of fostering solidarity that we are one family. Little Joey will be sorely missed by everyone!
December is our Holiday Party so please bring enough food for all of us to enjoy. The last couple of years the food quantity has been replaced with soda, cookies and desserts. Please contact our 2nd Vice President Marie Licciardello as to what you want to bring or she can recommend a dish of food that you and your family can bring. [See separate article in the Bulletin for Marie’s contact information.] Please keep in mind that we cannot have any alcoholic beverages on the premises. What we will have is our award ceremony where hard working members who toiled all year will get their rewards. Also, lest we forget, we will have our wonderful Fish Bingo, administered by our wonderful Marie Licciardello. You must participate in order to win our great fishy prizes.
As always, the meetings will be at the NY Aquarium Education Hall. Doors open at 7:30 PM. And, as always, there is Free Parking and Free Refreshments. Be alert to detours to Ed Hall during construction.
Please visit our new website where you can read the Bulletin and enjoy a full color Aquatica. The interactive forums and sponsor sections are truly remarkable. Provided you have given us your email address, you will be getting notifications of club events via email.
I am asking for your help and support. If you want to see different speakers or try different things, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why. It would be helpful to everyone.
It is especially important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!
For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.
On a more personal note – Any member who desires to attend a Board meeting, which are held at the Education Center of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (718) 238-1792 by the Tuesday previous to the meeting.
Joe Graffagnino
President